Chicago high rise fire case study
JHAZA
Firefighters_Testify_They_Saw_Civilians_In_Bldg_Stairwell.docFirefighters Testify They Saw Civilians In Co. Building Stairwell Highest-Ranking Official At Co. Building Fire Didn't Check In
POSTED: 6:19 p.m. CST March 22, 2004 UPDATED: 6:23 p.m. CST March 22, 2004
Story by nbc5.com
CHICAGO -- Testimony from the highest-ranking official at the scene of the fatal fire at the Cook County Administration Building could be damaging for the Chicago Fire Department.
Deputy Fire Commissioner Sal Marquez, who outranked everyone at the Oct. 17 fire, seemed incapable of even explaining his presence at the fire that day, NBC5's Phil Rogers reported, and members of the committee investigating the fire were not amused.
Marquez testified that when he arrived at the fire, he never checked in with the incident commander, who was running minute-to-minute operations. Marquez said he went to the fire floor and at one point was handling a fire hose himself. He also admitted he never tried to stop the building's deadly evacuation, as he didn't know that evacuation was taking place.
Earlier, three different firefighters testified that they saw civilians in the southeast stairwell, but none did anything with that information. That testimony was the first time any fire official said they had actually spoken to any civilians in the stairwell.
Firefighter Brandon Dyer said searching the stairwells was not his job. Firefighter Quentin Curtis testified that he didn't address the issue of civilians in the stairwell because that wasn't part of his assignment.
"You have to stick with your assignment," Curtis said.
Firefighter Danny Truesdale testified that he saw a civilian standing above the 12th floor but never followed up to see where that person went.
"I assumed they came past me," Truesdale testified.
Rogers also reported that a meeting was held at the fire academy the Monday after the fire. About 70 to 80 firefighters and officers who were at the deadly blaze met with the fire commissioner and city lawyers. According to Monday's testimony, it was at that meeting where all were ordered not to discuss the fire with anyone.
Seventeen civil lawsuits have been filed in connection with the fire, critical of the fire department's search for potential victims.
Copyright 2004 by NBC5.com . All rights reserved.
